Automobile signal lamp



W. G. KRAUS AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL LAMP Filed May 5 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l William Ill Tans v W. .G. KRAus AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL LAMP Filed May 5. 921 2 Sheets-Shed 2 atented ct. l4,

ill.

VETIJLLIAM G. 1:

US, 01 BRILLION, WISCONSIN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL LAMP.

Application filed May 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Gr. KRAUS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brillion, in the county of Calumet and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signal Lamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to signals, more especially to a signal which is adapted to be used on an automobile at night. In the operation of automobiles, a great deal of confusion has been caused, and many accidents have occurred from the fact that the driver was unable to signal visibly to parties in the rear or'in front when he intended to stop or to turn to right or left.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means which may be attached to an automobile, and which will be visible at night to indicate the intention of the driver.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal of this kind, which may be used in connection with the bracket for supporting the registration number, and which will illuminate the same. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a signal, which may be visible from the front as well as from the rear of the automobile.

In describing my invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my device.

Figure 2 is-a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the casing, and means for attaching the same.

Figure 4 is a view showing the indicia which are on the signalling device, and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring by which the different signals are displayed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral represents a cylindrical opaque casing mounted on the bracket 11, which may be attached to an automobile, and may also carry the license plate. The casing is provided in front with a window 12 and on the side with a window 13 throu h which the license number may be illuminated. Within the casing 10 is mounted an electric lamp 14, which is mounted in the socket 15 carried on theinner end of a hollow rod 16, which is mounted 1921. Serial No. 466,948.

in the brackets 17 and 18 extending transversely of the casing 10. Through the rod 16 extend the wires 19 for conveying current to the lamp. Mounted within the cas ing 10 is a cylindrical transparent casing 20, which is carried by the spiders 21 and 22, the spider 21 being journalled on a stud 23, which projects from the upper end of the outer casing, the spider 22 being mounted on the rod 16.

On the surface of the transparent casing are mounted the signals 24, 25, 26 and 27. The signal 24 is merely the usual tail light lens. The si nal 25 may be in the shape of the letter i and denotes stop. The signal 26 may be in the shape of a letter L and denotes left turn, and the signal 27 may be in the shape of the letter R and denotes right turn. The oval shaped lens 24 will be of substantially the same size as the window 12 and will be colored red. The other signals may be red or green or any other color desired. The hub of the spider 22 is 0 extended outwardly, as shown at 28, and is connected by gears 29, 30 and 30 to the spring motor 31. Provision is made at 32 for winding up the motor. The extended hub 28 is provided with a plurality of recesses 33, in the present case four in number. Small soft iron rods 34, 35, 36 and 37 are mounted within the casing and adapted to engage the recesses 33 and solenoids 38, 39, and 41 are mounted within the casing and the soft iron rods form the cores of the solenoids. The solenoids are mounted in such position with relation to the cores that whenever one of the solenoids is energized, its core will be projected into the corresponding recess 33. When the solenoid is de-energized, a spring 42 is adapted to retract the core from the recess. The wires leading to the solenoids are controlled by a switch 43, by which any one may be connected to the .source of current 44. As shown in Figure 5, the automobile is provided also at the front end with signals similar to those at the rear. end and controlled by solenoids 38, 39, 40 and 41, which are connected in series with the corresponding solenoids at the rear end. It is to be noted that some one of the several solenoids of each of the signals is constantly energized and therefore the spring motor is prevented from operating until some other solenoid is energized an the one initially energized is de-energized. Obviously, under these conditions the spring motor will turn until the magnetically urged plunger enters the corresponding recess and arrests the motion of the cylinder and spring motor. In this manner only the four active solenoids need be employed and therefore any additional mechanism to normally retain the device against rotation is avoided.

Whenever the driver intends to stop or to turn to the right or left, his intention may readily be signalled to those in front or in rear simply b shifting the switch 43 to the point S, L or It will be seen that by the provision of the resilient driving mechanism an immediate response is attained whenever the cylinder is released and permitted to rotate to the necessary stop.

This spring motor is an extremely simple device and may be cheaply produced and incorporated in the signal structure. It is also to be noted that the radial position of the solenoids materially simplifies the manufacturing process and operations necessary in producing this device, and it is here to be noted that the plungers of the solenoids are themselves, the retaining means for stopping the revoluble cylinder at the desired point.

I claim:

A signal device for automobiles comprising an opaque casing having a window therein, vertically spaced brackets extending transversely across the lower portion of said casing, spring motor mechanism carried between said brackets, a stationary hollow post extending upwardly from the uppermost of said brackets, an electric lamp carried by the upper end of saidpost, conductors passing through said post for said lamp, a spider having an elongated hub mounted upon said post and provided with a plurality of radial apertures, gearing connecting said hub and spring motor, a plurality of radially arranged solenoids having plungers adapted to enter said apertures, and a transparent casing surrounding said lamp, mounted within said opaque casing, and carried by said spider, said transparent casing having a lurality of signal portions adapted to a ign with said window.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Brillion, in the county of Calumet and State of Wisconsin.

WILLIAM G. KRAUS. 

